Colonoscopy question!!

[N&B'smom]

Can you wear contacts during a colonoscopy?? I'm having one on Tuesday and I forgot to ask!

Shelby

 

[monkeyboy]

If you wear contact lenses please wear glasses the day of your procedure

 

[disneyholic family]

Can you wear contacts during a colonoscopy?? I'm having one on Tuesday and I forgot to ask!

Shelby

i would doubt it...they give you a pretty heavy sedative that causes you to fall asleep...

 

[N&B'smom]

If you wear contact lenses please wear glasses the day of your procedure

Thanks! (wow, you're polite!)

Shelby

 

[chirurgeon]

Shelby, I don't wear contacts but I have had multiple colonoscopies, so I am leaning toward no. I would think you can call your dr's office on Monday(between potty trips) and ask. Good luck.

Kim

 

[goofyernmost]

Just out of curiosity why would it be necessary to take out your contacts? I know that watching what they are doing makes you want to poke your eyes out but other than that the machine doesn't come anywhere near your eyes.

I have had that procedure a couple of times and I was awake and watching it on the monitor the whole time. What's up with this sleeping thing?

 

[TaraPA]

I've had 3 colonoscopies & wore my contacts for all three - I don't get why you would need to take them out - unless they're daily wear & you can't wear them to sleep (you'll be out for at least an hour if not a better part of the day!) Mine are extended wear & they never even asked if I wore contacts.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I was told not to wear my contacts for my colonoscopy.

I work in a surgery center and we always ask people going under anesthesia to not wear contacts as a precaution. They can keep dentures in as long as we know about them.

Good Luck Shelby. The prep is the worst of it.

 

[goofyernmost]

OK, you've said that you ask people to remove them, but, you still haven't said why. Is there a reason or is it just on a checklist.

I just had carpal tunnel surgery a few weeks ago and when I got to the out patient area they told me to strip completely and put on the gown. I had to ask, why do I have to be naked when you are just working on my wrist. They couldn't answer the question so I said, listen, I'll keep my underwear on and if you have a need to cut them off for some emergency, go ahead (what kind of emergency would require removal of underwear unless they have a surgeon that was told to not wear contacts and couldn't see where to use the scalpel)

I suspect that it has to do with hygiene but if my unmentionables are in such a state that this is a problem, the rest of me must be pretty nasty as well. Oh, well, we have indeed been trained to never question anything medical.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

OK, you've said that you ask people to remove them, but, you still haven't said why. Is there a reason or is it just on a checklist.

I just had carpal tunnel surgery a few weeks ago and when I got to the out patient area they told me to strip completely and put on the gown. I had to ask, why do I have to be naked when you are just working on my wrist. They couldn't answer the question so I said, listen, I'll keep my underwear on and if you have a need to cut them off for some emergency, go ahead (what kind of emergency would require removal of underwear unless they have a surgeon that was told to not wear contacts and couldn't see where to use the scalpel)

I suspect that it has to do with hygiene but if my unmentionables are in such a state that this is a problem, the rest of me must be pretty nasty as well. Oh, well, we have indeed been trained to never question anything medical.

I did answer why. Contacts are taken out as a precaution in case something out of the ordinary would happen. Very unlikely but if you went into cardiac arrest and needed to be placed on a ventilator for an extended period of time, those contacts would need to be removed from your eyes.

After everything that was done, I doubt the contacts in your eyes would be remembered. So then they would be left in for an extended period and if you did wake up, would create more problems for you.

Very unlikely situation but could happen so its done as a precaution. And yes the undies thing was a hygiene thing, but we let our patients keep their undergarments on.

 

[goofyernmost]

I did answer why. Contacts are taken out as a precaution in case something out of the ordinary would happen. Very unlikely but if you went into cardiac arrest and needed to be placed on a ventilator for an extended period of time, those contacts would need to be removed from your eyes.

After everything that was done, I doubt the contacts in your eyes would be remembered. So then they would be left in for an extended period and if you did wake up, would create more problems for you.

OK, sorry...must have missed that memo I guess that makes sense, but, if something happened that put me out, wouldn't someone be checking my eyes for dilation, and if so, wouldn't they then notice that I had contacts in place?

 

[Bojo]

Why would you even want to watch?

 

[goofyernmost]

Why would you even want to watch?

I find it quite fascinating. It is hard to wrap your brain around the fact that you are actually looking at your insides. Few people get to do that. I know not everyone can deal with that, but, I just find it unbelievable interesting. I'm almost sad when it is done.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I had one last week and took my contacts out. I was out of it for a good hour there, then off and on at home later.

Good luck with the prep. Mine worked too well. I fainted during the night, was nauseous, lightheaded, threw up, etc. I had the pills. Dr. said I should not do that particular cleansing regime again. Glad it is over with for 5 years!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I don't wear mine, I can't remember being told not to but it's more of a comfort thing for me. My eyes get dry really easily and even just 45-1 hour of having them closed for the procedure would cause issues. Just easier to go without =)

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks. I'll just wear my glasses. Not a big deal, I just hate to wake up and not be able to see.

Tomorrow I have to start the prep at noon. I'll be honest though, I'm more concerned about the results than the prep/test.

Shelby

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

OK, sorry...must have missed that memo I guess that makes sense, but, if something happened that put me out, wouldn't someone be checking my eyes for dilation, and if so, wouldn't they then notice that I had contacts in place?

If you are in cardiac arrest, the last thing someone would say would be, 'Oh wait, we have to take her contacts out".

And if one of the medical personnel did, I would seriously consider another hospital, that is if I made it through the arrest.

 

[goofyernmost]

If you are in cardiac arrest, the last thing someone would say would be, 'Oh wait, we have to take her contacts out".

And if one of the medical personnel did, I would seriously consider another hospital, that is if I made it through the arrest.

OK, but if I were having a cardiac arrest I would think that the least thing to worry about would be if I were wearing contacts or not. Why would you have to take out my contacts if I was having a cardiac arrest anyway? What happens if they stay in until my heart is working again? Will I go blind? See my life flash before my eyes clearly? What?

 

[Laura]

Thanks. I'll just wear my glasses. Not a big deal, I just hate to wake up and not be able to see.

Tomorrow I have to start the prep at noon. I'll be honest though, I'm more concerned about the results than the prep/test.

Shelby

Good luck! And yes, they told me not to wear contacts. They even took off my glasses for me when I turned on my left side. I had a very nice nap.

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks everyone! When they called me this morning to tell me what time to be there they told me no contacts. I didn't even have to ask.

I just drank my first delicious dose of Fleets Phos Soda. I don't know how I got it down but I did. It made me never want to drink lemonade again!

Shelby